A comprehensive framework and tool for supporting progressive learning of software development in an academic learning environment

Abstract

The use of technology-enabled environments to facilitate online education has increasingly gained importance to promote learning. Tools like learning management systems, virtual laboratory platforms, online monitoring, and mentoring tools, all form a concrete technology bed for augmenting online education. However, successful use of these segregated tools is possible only through the implementation of a structured process or framework of usage of these tools for learning. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework for supporting progressive learning of software development by students. This framework provides guidelines for structuring individual and collaborative programming activities of students at various levels and is realized through the implementation of a tool named eGuru. This tool is used for managing, monitoring, mentoring, and facilitating collaborative programming activities of students and also provides a detailed user interface for facilitating the academic activities of teachers and lab instructors. Peers, alumni, and industry experts also play important roles in providing online mentoring using this tool. The execution structure proposed in the framework is effective not only for promoting online programming education but also creates a virtual environment analogous to the collaborative development environment existing in the software industry, and thus helps in preparing students for the future.